Subban tight-lipped on contract talks

MONTREAL (CP) — Star defenceman P.K. Subban is keeping quiet about negotiations on a new contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

Subban is scheduled to go to arbitration on Friday unless he can ink a new deal with the club before then.

“I’ll answer one question about the negotiation: It’s been kept pretty quiet the whole time and it’s going to remain that way until a deal’s done,” he said Saturday at the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal. “As of right now, I’m just trying to enjoy the day and not think of anything.”

No matter how often he was asked in a scrum with media, there was no news on how much money the 2013 Norris Trophy winner is seeking or whether he wants a short or long-term deal.

It may end up being among the richest contracts in the league, considering that the NHL salary cap will rise substantially next season and perhaps again the year after that.

“There’s a lot of things on my mind,” he said. “First of all, I love golf.

He applauded the deal the Canadiens signed last week with centre Lars Eller a day before he was scheduled to go to arbitration. Eller, after an ordinary regular season and a strong playoffs, inked a four-year US$14 million contract.

“He deserves it,” said Subban. “He’s played well and he’s a big part of our team.”